Welcome to visit Scientia Silvae Sinicae,Today is

Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2025, Vol. 61 ›› Issue (6): 75-84.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.LYKX20240089

• Research papers • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Response and Driving Factors of Soil Organic Carbon and Its Fractions to Stand Age in Pinus massoniana Plantation

Jianwen Hu1,2,Changfu Liu1,3,4,*(),Mengmeng Gou1,3,4,Lei Lei1,3,4,Huiling Chen1,Jiajia Zhang1,Sufeng Zhu1,Ruyuan Hu1,Wenfa Xiao1,3,4   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Environment of National Forestry and Grassland Administration Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, CAF Beijing 100091
    2. Engineering Research Center of Coal-Based Ecological Carbon Sequestration Technology of the Ministry of Education Shanxi Datong University Datong 037009
    3. Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing 210037
    4. Three Gorges Reservoir National Forest Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Zigui, Hubei Province Zigui 443600
  • Received:2024-02-14 Online:2025-06-10 Published:2025-06-26
  • Contact: Changfu Liu E-mail:liucf898@163.com

Abstract:

Objective: Analyzing the variation characteristics and influencing factors of soil organic carbon (SOC) and its fraction carbon pools in Pinus massoniana plantations of different stand ages, to provide a reference for clarifying the SOC sequestration mechanisms in plantations. Method: This study investigated subtropical P. massoniana plantations across stand age classes: young (6 a), middle-aged (13 a), near-mature (29 a), mature (38 a), and over-mature (57 a). Explored age-dependent patterns of SOC and its fractions in the 0–10 cm soil layer, analyzed relationships between SOC fraction dynamics and key indicators (tree characteristics, soil chemical properties, and microbial biomass), and further discussed the underlying mechanisms of SOC sequestration in plantation ecosystems. Result: The SOC content in mature plantation was significantly higher than that in young plantation and middle-aged plantation. The dry mass fraction of mineral-associated fraction (72.98%) in mature plantation was significantly lower than young plantation, middle-aged plantation, near-mature plantation and over-mature plantation (92.67%–93.33%), while the dry mass fraction of light particle fraction (26.08%) and heavy particle fraction (0.93%) were significantly higher than young and middle-aged plantations. The organic carbon content of mineral-associated fraction in mature plantation was significantly higher than young, middle-aged, near-mature, and over-mature plantations, the organic carbon content of heavy particulate fraction was significantly lower than that in over-mature plantation, and the organic carbon content of light particulate fraction was significantly lower than middle-aged plantation. The organic carbon mass fraction of mineral-associated fraction in all age groups was > 50%, which dominated the accumulation of SOC. The organic carbon dry mass fraction of mineral-associated fraction in mature plantation (66.78%) was significantly lower than young, middle-aged, near-mature and over-mature plantations. Correlation analysis revealed that SOC content was significantly positively correlated with the dry mass fraction of light particle fraction, the dry mass fraction of heavy particle fraction and the mineral-associated fraction organic carbon content, and was significantly negatively correlated with the light particle fraction organic carbon content. Stepwise regression analysis showed that SOC accumulation was driven by forest floor litter, dry mass fraction of light particle fraction, dry mass fraction of heavy particle fraction and mineral-associated fraction organic carbon content (R2=0.98). The partial least squares model showed that the total effect of mineral-associated fraction (including organic carbon content and carbon-phosphorus ratio of mineral‐associated fraction) on SOC accumulation was the highest (0.91) during stand development. Conclusion: The mineral-associated protection mechanisms mediate the dynamics of soil organic carbon sequestration during stand development in P. massoniana plantations. In the mature plantation, synergistic effects between forest floor litter and SOC fractions facilitated highly efficient SOC sequestration.

Key words: Pinus massoniana plantation, soil organic carbon, soil organic carbon fraction, stand age

CLC Number: